Birds
Rosy-billed Pochard
Netta peposaca
A swollen, bright rosy-red knob at the base of its bill gives a male rosy-billed pochard an unmistakable look as it dives for food across the freshwater wetlands of southern South America.
Overview
The rosy-billed pochard, Netta peposaca, is a Least Concern diving duck common across freshwater wetlands of Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and southern Brazil. Its striking bill knob, glossy dark plumage, and popularity in waterfowl collections worldwide have made it one of the more recognizable South American ducks.
A diver among dabblers
While many ducks feed mainly at the surface, the rosy-billed pochard dives readily for aquatic plants, seeds, and invertebrates, a foraging style shared with other diving ducks but less common among its dabbling relatives.
Status
Least Concern, remaining common and widespread across suitable freshwater wetland habitat throughout southern South America.
Rosy-billed Pochard: common questions
Why is it called the rosy-billed pochard?
Breeding males develop a swollen, bright rosy-red knob at the base of the bill, a distinctive feature that gives the species its common name.
What does the rosy-billed pochard eat?
It is an omnivore, diving for aquatic plants, seeds, and invertebrates in freshwater wetlands rather than feeding mainly at the surface like many dabbling ducks.
Is the rosy-billed pochard found outside the wild?
Yes, it is widely kept in waterfowl collections around the world due to its striking plumage and distinctive bill, in addition to its wild population across southern South America.
Does the rosy-billed pochard form flocks?
Yes, it gathers in large, often mixed flocks on lakes and marshes outside the breeding season.